Efficient Production of Hydrogen by DBD Type Plasma Discharges

A hydrogen production system using plasma discharges working in high pressure condition over 1.5 atm is under development. The original fuel for the system is hydrocarbons, such as methane or propane. For those purposes, mainly a dielectric barrier discharge nonthermal plasma system is employed. High efficient decompositions of hydrocarbons have been observed to produce hydrogen gas without COx. The production rate of hydrogen from methane or propane increases linearly with input energy for decomposition. This rate also has dependence on electrode temperature; higher temperature shows better decomposition rate. Decomposed carbon powder is attached fully on the electrodes without contamination on the surrounding vacuum chamber wall.